However, what seems to forge the most agreement is that the essence of being a leader transcends mere titles or positions. True leadership is about knowing where you're going and having the ability to communicate that vision effectively. It's no use leading people in circles; that is short-term managing, coping even, and not leading. A genuine leader must possess a clear direction and inspire trust among their teams. Trust is built on honesty and integrity, and it's an essential attribute for leaders. Trust is also where the phrase, “perception is reality” comes into its own. Being a trustworthy person in a leadership position is not the same as being a trusted leader. This is where character comes into play. Character is not just a moralistic ideal; it is a fundamental trait that influences long-term success across various fields.
For instance, conscientiousness - a personality trait associated with reliability and trustworthiness - has been shown to predict success in many occupations. A leader can be harsh or kind, but what truly matters is their ability to follow through on their commitments.
I wonder what more the education system (meaning in-company development as well as schools) can do to address the importance of character development. Society seems to be struggling to agree upon what admirable qualities look like. Yet, a relatively small number of people with such qualities can significantly impact a community, a team, an organisation. We mustn’t allow the number of such characters to dwindle through a lack of ambition to develop the ‘next generation’ (and the one after that), nor through a lack of clarity in what characteristics we need.
We probably feel fairly confident about the leadership attributes needed for success today and in the short term. But what about the succession plan? That is not just about ticking boxes and showing progress through the ranks for a few identified individuals. It has to be about understanding what development they need to get there and succeed. And that is unlikely to be the same development that we went through.
Which characteristics do you think are going to be essential for leadership in the 2030s and beyond?
